Hibiscus plant named ‘Purple Hearts’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of winter hardy  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Purple Hearts’ is the result of a unique hybridization. This new and distinct cultivar is characterized primarily as to its novelty by its extreme cold hardiness to Zone 4, medium thick-textured, Deep Red flowers and its “Heart-shaped” foliage with a dark-purple coloration, compactness of approximately 2½-3½ feet, its vigorous and uniform breaking habit and its floriferous nature from midsummer until frost.

Latin name: “Hibiscus moscheutos×hybrida”.

Varietal denomination: ‘Purple Hearts’.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This plant, as a hybridized hardy Hibiscus, is valuable to the landscape market for its improvements in large thicker textured, dark red flowers with dark purple buds, refined cordate, “heart-shaped” foliage with a dark purple color, its all-around vigor, good compact breaking action, and adaptation to extreme environments, including the ability to consistently survive winter temperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The new plant of this invention is the result of a unique hybridization, with the breeding achievement being evidenced in the outstanding combination of characteristics exhibited by this new and distinct Hibiscus plant, which include:

-   -   (a) Refined, ovate leaves of a dark purple color and relatively         smooth margins which combined compliments the landscape;     -   (b) Large flowers that are outstanding for their dark red         colored petals (on both sides);     -   (c) The plant being very floriferous with flowers that stay open         for at least one (to two days, if cool);     -   (d) The plant being small in size but vigorous with compact and         uniform breaking action which gives it unique landscape utility;         and     -   (e) The plant being so hardy that it can consistently withstand         winter temperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

-   -   2. ‘Purple Hearts’ was the result of a 68-year breeding program.         Its ancestry includes Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus         coccineus. More specifically, the plant resulted from multiple         crossings with an unnamed, Fleming-bred Hibiscus moscheutos (non         patented) and an unnamed Fleming-bred Hibiscus coccineus (non         patented). The seedling which most nearly met all of the above         standards was selected.     -   3. This new plant first bloomed in the summer of 2008 and was         selected by Gretchen Zwetzig on her property located at 267 N         Strathmore Ave, Lindsay Calif. and also at previous address         Skyline Dr, Lincoln, Nebr. Asexual propagation of the plant by         cuttings and root division in Lindsay, Calif. and Lincoln, Nebr.         has shown that the unique and distinguishing features of the         plant are faithfully transmitted from generation to generation         and appear to be fixed.     -   4. Since its origin, the plant has bloomed from midsummer until         frost, while exhibiting the aforementioned distinctive         characteristics. This hardy Hibiscus plant greatly contributes         to the market with its, bold and stunning beauty and utter         refinement, its compact growth habit, its enhanced resistance to         disease and insects, its stability through extremes in rain and         drought, and its extreme hardiness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

-   -   5. The flower and foliage of the cultivar at 2½ years of age are         shown in the attached photograph. More specifically, FIG. 1 is a         close-up of the flower and the leaf. The colors are as true as         is reasonably possible to attain in photographic illustrations         of this type. The colors illustrated may be slightly off due to         light reflectance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   -   6. What follows is a detailed description of the new cultivar.         The specific color descriptions are in accordance with The Royal         Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001), while general color         recitations are consistent with ordinary American terminology.     -   7. ‘Purple Hearts’ has not been observed under all possible         environmental conditions. It is to be understood that the         phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the         environment such as temperature, light intensity, humidity, and         day length without, however any difference in genotype of the         plant. The following botanical characteristics and observations         are gathered from the plant when grown in Lincoln, Nebr. (USDA         Zone 4) and Lindsay, Calif. (USDA Zone 9).

THE PLANT

-   Parentage:     -   -   Seed parent.—Hibiscus moscheutos, unnamed and unpatented             Fleming-bred seedling.         -   Pollen parent.—Hibiscus coccineus, unnamed and unpatented             Fleming-bred seedling. -   Comparison between observed plant and parents: Parents were similar,     except for being approximately 1½ foot taller in height than     Observed Plant. -   Comparison between observed plant and other known cultivars: The     Observed Plant is unique, but most similar to patents: Robert     Fleming U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,776 among the other patented hardy     Hibiscus from Gretchen Zwetzig, in that:     -   -   (a).—They are all more compact at 3 feet on average.         -   (b).—They are all hardy to −30 degrees Fahrenheit.         -   (c).—They all have refined new leaf shapes and colors.         -   (d).—They all have thick unique flower petal colors with             blooms from the top to the bottom of the plant. -   Origin: A selected seedling from stated cross. -   Type of plant: Hardy, herbaceous perennial. -   Classification: Variety of hardy Hibiscus plant. -   Propagation: Relatively easy to propagate through cuttings; holds     its distinguishing characteristics through successive cuttings and     divisions. -   Size: About 3 feet tall and about 2½ to 3 feet wide. -   Form: Symmetrical annual growth from perennial roots. -   Habit: Upright and uniformly branched. -   Growth: Vigorous; medium and compact. Full grown (3½ ft) in 2 years.     2 ft 8 inches or 36 inches when measured. -   Hardiness: Hardy to at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit. -   General health: Plant is very disease resistant against rot, aphids,     spider mites, scale, white fly etc.; sturdy through excessive     drought, rain or wind. -   Propagation: Relatively easy and fast rooting in approximately 3     weeks. -   Foliage:     -   -   1. Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   2. Shape.—Juvenile: Ovate leaves. Very Rounded base shape.             Mature: Refined, ovate leaf with entire to mildly serrate             margins and acute apice; rounded base.         -   3. Size.—Mature leaf (petiole base to apex): Length is about             6 inches width is about 3 inches. Young leaf: Length 2½             inches, width is 1½ inches.         -   4. Color.—Young leaves: N 77-A Green coloration not             detectable by photographs (147 A). Mature leaves: (upper             side): N 77-A and N 79-A. Veins: Venation pattern: Palmate.             Venation Color: N 79-A. -   Coloration of the lower leaf surface: Mature: Between 148-B and     149-B. Young: closest to 147-B.     -   -   5. Surface texture.—Upper: Smooth. Lower: Semi-smooth.         -   6. Petiole length.—About 2¾ inches. Diameter: 1/16 inch.         -   7. Petiole color.—137-A and N 77-A. -   Stems: The stems are stout at the base becoming more slender toward     the apices; coloration is consistent with the petiole. -   Length: 2-3 inches. Diameter: ⅛ to 1/16 inch. -   Internode length: Apx. 2 inches. -   Texture: Semi-smooth.

THE FLOWER

-   Blooming period: Profuse from June/July until frost, depending of     whether South/North U.S. -   Flower diameter: Medium to large; about 9-11 inches. -   Borne: Singly in leaf axils, from midpoint of stems upward. -   Bloom duration: Individual bloom lasts at least one to two full     days. -   Form: Campanulate; petals are also very overlapping. -   Average number of flowers per season: 300 -   Bud:     -   -   1. Length.—About 2¼ inches on day before opening. Diameter:             apx. 2 inches.         -   2. Color.—N 77.         -   3. Surface texture.—Semi-glabrous.         -   4. Duration.—One to two weeks. -   Corolla: Having five petals.     -   -   1. Petal character and dimensions.—Campanulate and very             overlapping. (a) Length: About 4-5 inches. (b) Width: About             4-5 inches.         -   2. Coloration.—Dark Red petals: Between 53 A and 59 A. (a)             Coloration of lower petal surface: Between 53 A and             59 A. (b) Upper and Lower Venation (through veins) in             petals: A little darker than 59 A. (c) Eye zone: 59 A. Size:             1½ inches.         -   3. Texture.—Smooth.         -   4. Substance.—Thick.         -   5. Shape.—Campanulate and very overlapping with petal             ruffles at edges. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   1. Staminal column.—Stamen along basal two-thirds. One per             flower. Apx. 100 stamens per flower. Stamen length: About 1½             inches. Stamen color designation: 2-D. Pollen color: 12-B.         -   2. Style.—Terminates upper one-third of staminal column.             Length ½ to 1 inch. Color: 11-A. Stigmatic lobe color: 11-A             (tips: 63-A). Stigma average size: ⅛ to 1/16 inch. -   Calyx: Shape: 5 lobed, connate at the base; about 2½ inches in     length. Upper and Lower Color: Medium green: 146-A. Surface Texture:     Semi-Smooth. -   Stipules: None. -   Seeds (fruit): Size: 1 cm. Color: Grey-brown (RHS 166 B). Average     number: Less than 100. -   Epicalyx: Whorl of bracts.     -   -   1. Shape.—10-12 slender, sword-shaped bractlets.         -   2. Length.—About 1½ inches.         -   3. Color.—144-A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   1. Length.—About 2 inches. Diameter: 1 cm.         -   2. Strength.—Stiff and sturdy.         -   3. Color.—Light to medium green with slight reddish-purple             cast. 148-A and 175 A.         -   4. Texture.—Semi-smooth. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of hardy Hibiscus plant, as herein shown and described, characterized by its compact nature, refined “heart-shaped” foliage of an extremely dark purple coloration, its large dark red thick and slightly ruffled flowers, its vigor and its hardiness in weather extremes. 